Hotel at a Glance: The Capri Hotel

Most guest rooms at The Capri Hotel have vinyl record players, and guests can check out classic records from the front desk. It’s one of the many charming retro-California touches at this midcentury hotel; there’s also a “vacancy” sign out front and button-back white sofas in the lobby. The hotel has been updated with modern amenities, too, and rooms include 42-inch plasma TVs and rain showerheads. The on-site spa has been recently renovated; indulge in an Ojai Pixie vitamin C facial or an organic spray tan.

• A room with a view: Guest rooms have either private patios or balconies with views of the mountains or gardens.
• Recently renovated: Modern amenities mix with mid-century heritage. Record players and vintage vinyl are featured in select rooms to take guests back to the vintage feel of Ojai, California, circa 1963.
• Dine on farm-to-table cuisine at the nearby Deer Lodge, an Ojai staple since 1932. The Sunday–Thursday option of this Getaway includes a $15 dining credit at the restaurant.
• Walk to downtown Ojai with its teahouses, boutiques, and art galleries.
• Eco-friendly bath products: organic toiletries from Green Natura
• Soak up some fresh air: You’ll be just a short drive from both Los Padres National Forest and the Pacific Ocean.

Ojai, California: Artsy Small Town in Peaceful Mountain Valley

In Ojai at dusk, the light from the setting sun reflects off of the Topatopa Mountains in such a way that the face of the mountains starts to glow with a distinctive rouge color. Locals call it the “pink moment,” and Ojai is one of the few places in the world where this phenomenon occurs. You can get a nice view of this event at Meditation Mount, a New Age center.

Serenity and simplicity seem to be some of the defining characteristics of Ojai, contrasting it with the sprawling Los Angeles, located about 90 minutes southeast. Ojai has just a handful of traffic lights and some well-kept bridle paths. The city also used to be home to the peaceful Chumash tribe, who believed that the land’s east-west configuration gave it magical powers. Spiritual traditions still linger; today, the town features a number of sites, spas, and shops dedicated to holistic healing and meditation.

Many restaurants in Ojai rely on local farms to source their food; the produce grown in town is well-regarded enough that residents of neighboring towns have been known to travel to Ojai on Sunday mornings for the weekly farmers’ market.

There’s also a strong artistic presence in town, due in no small part to former resident Beatrice Wood, a renowned sculptor. She worked until her death at age 105. You’re likely to stumble upon the works of local artists hanging on the walls in the area’s restaurants and shops, and many artists open up their studios to outside visitors.

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